A genesis block is the first block of a block chain. Modern versions of Bitcoin number it as block 0, though very early versions counted it as block 1. The genesis block is almost always hardcoded into the software of the applications that utilize its block chain. It is a special case in that it does not reference a previous block, and for Bitcoin and almost all of its derivatives, it produces an unspendable subsidy.| en.bitcoin.it
Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm or ECDSA is a cryptographic algorithm used by Bitcoin to ensure that funds can only be spent by their rightful owners. It is dependent on the curve order and hash function used. For bitcoin these are Secp256k1 and SHA256(SHA256()) respectively.| en.bitcoin.it
Byte-map of Transaction with each type of TxIn and TxOutA transaction is a transfer of Bitcoin value that is broadcast to the network and collected into blocks. A transaction typically references previous transaction outputs as new transaction inputs and dedicates all input Bitcoin values to new outputs. Transactions are not encrypted, so it is possible to browse and view every transaction ever collected into a block. Once transactions are buried under enough confirmations they can be conside...| en.bitcoin.it
Proof-of-work should not be seen as a mysterious or wasteful system, but as something functional, natural, and potentially of value for the design of any communication protocol.| nakamotoinstitute.org
This page contains sample addresses and/or private keys. Do not send bitcoins to or import any sample keys; you will lose your money.| en.bitcoin.it